Thanks Greywolf! I think I may have caused more alarm than was really warranted in my initial post though... I
think it's just that some of the links were gummed up by old lube, road salt and not having been used for a few weeks... once I warmed it up with a ride around the carpark a few times, everything started moving far more freely. Certainly no kinks in the chain that I could see anyway.
I'm hopeful that it's just surface rust and the O-rings are OK... but I definitely take your point that it's better to be safe than sorry about such things, so I will ask the mechanic to give my chain a good look over when he fits the Scottoiler. If he thinks it looks in acceptable condition I will probably ride on with it, but if he thinks a new chain is needed then I will bite the bullet.
Have learnt my lesson though... will get a centre stand soon and pay more attention to the chain generally! I looked after my chain better on my Yamaha XJ6, partly because I had a centre stand and partly because I trusted the
solid block lubricator I got for the Strom more than it appears I should have!
I think my new regime will be Scottoiler for lubing, then a clean with proper chain cleaner and a wipe with ACF-50 every 500 miles in summer and every week in winter... sound about right?